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Lori Benton

Lori Benton was raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by early American history going back three hundred years. Her novels transport readers to the eighteenth century, where she brings to life the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history. When she isn’t writing, reading, or researching, Lori enjoys exploring and photographing the Oregon wilderness with her husband. She is the author of "Burning Sky," recipient of three Christy Awards, "The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn," Christy-nominee "The Wood’s Edge," and "A Flight of Arrows."

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Either she and her children would emerge from that wilderness together, or none of them would. . . .

In 1774, the Ohio-Kentucky frontier pulses with rising tension and brutal conflicts as Colonists push westward and encroach upon Native American territories. The young Inglesby family is making the perilous journey west when an accident sends Philip back to Redstone Fort for help, forcing him to leave his pregnant wife Clare and their four-year old son Jacob on a remote mountain trail.

When Philip does not return and Jacob disappears from the wagon under the cover of darkness, Clare awakens the next morning to find herself utterly alone, in labor and wondering how she can to recover her son . . . especially when her second child is moments away from being born.

Clare will face the greatest fight of her life, as she struggles to reclaim her son from the Shawnee Indians now holding him captive. But with the battle lines sharply drawn, Jacob’s life might not be the only one at stake. When frontiersman Jeremiah Ring comes to her aid, can the stranger convince Clare that recovering her son will require the very thing her anguished heart is unwilling to do—be still, wait and let God fight this battle for them?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In God’s eyes, we are of equal and priceless value

Lori Benton’s Many Sparrows reminds readers of God’s power and perfect timing

8/29/2017 || Seattle: Understanding why some things happen the way they do is impossible, but as Christians, we must remember God is in control and His timing is perfect. His purposes are deeper and broader than we can imagine. These are lessons Clare Inglesby must learn in award-winning author Lori Benton’s latest historical novel, Many Sparrows (WaterBrook/August 29, 2017/ISBN 978-1601429940/$15.99).

Set in 1774 and based on historical facts, Many Sparrows depicts the harrowing account of a young mother who will stop at nothing to find and reclaim her son after he is taken by a native tribe. Clare Inglesby, a settler of the Ohio-Kentucky frontier, finds herself in a perilous situation when an accident forces her husband to leave her alone on a remote mountain trail with their four-year-old son, Jacob. Her precarious circumstances only intensify when Jacob is taken by the Shawnee under the cover of darkness. Clare awakens the next morning to find herself utterly alone and in labor.

Clare will face the greatest fight of her life as she struggles to reclaim her son from the Shawnee Indians now holding him captive. However, with the battle lines sharply drawn following a conflict between the Shawnee and new settlers, Jacob’s life might not be the only one at stake.

Frontiersman and adopted Shawnee Jeremiah Ring comes to Clare’s aid and promises to help her recover her son. However, his deep familial connection to the Shawnee makes his promise more complicated and the consequences more painful than either party could anticipate. Can Jeremiah convince Clare that recovering her son will require the very thing her anguished heart is unwilling to do — be still, wait and let God fight this battle for them?

Benton deftly handles the moral complexity of the two ways of life that clashed against each other as colonists encroached upon Native American territories on the Ohio-Kentucky border. “I was inspired to write it by my research into the 18th century and also by what God’s been doing in my own heart in recent years,” Benton shares. “I hope to convey [in Many Sparrows] a picture of what it means not to rely on our own understanding and strength, but wait on the Lord to work on our behalf.”

According to Benton, the title of Many Sparrows has several meanings. “It’s taken from Matthew 10:29–31, ‘Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father. . . . Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows,’” she explains. “The title speaks to the theme of God’s vigilance in our lives and His constant care for us, as well as the fact we are linked to one another. In God’s eyes we are of equal and priceless value — far more than many sparrows, each and every one.”

Advance Praise

“Stunning. Many Sparrows is everything I want in a book: settings that spring to life, characters I love, rich historical context, heart-wrenching drama, timeless spiritual insights and prose that reads like poetry. Lori Benton handles the conflicted 18th century with sensitivity in this tender tale of hope and fear, faith and doubt, loss and new life. Truly, this is an inspired masterpiece sure to stir the soul.”

~ Jocelyn Green, award-winning author of The Mark of the King

“Intense. Enlightening. Lustrous. Many Sparrows is a lesson in early American history wrapped up in a beautiful romance, one not only of the human heart but of God’s heart for His creation. I cherished Clare and Jeremiah’s quietly blossoming love and deeply felt their struggle to trust and reach that painful yet unburdening place of surrender. Many sighs. And many thanks to the author.”

About the Author

Lori Benton was raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by early American history going back 300 years. Her novels transport readers to the 18th century, where she brings the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history to life.

She is the author of Burning Sky (recipient of three Christy Awards), The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn, The Wood’s Edge (a Christy nominee) and A Flight of Arrows. Her latest release is Many Sparrows.

When Benton isn’t writing, reading or researching, she enjoys exploring the Oregon wilderness with her husband.

Suggested interview questions

—Have you always enjoyed studying history? What drew you to writing specifically about 18th-century America?

—What inspired the storyline for Many Sparrows? How much of the book is based on historical fact?

—Can you tell us about the research that went into writing this book?

—What do you hope readers learn about God’s timing and His plans for us while reading Many Sparrows?

—Why is it difficult to surrender situations to God and rely on Him to resolve the circumstances?

—Without giving away too much of the story, can you share where the title Many Sparrows comes from?

—There are many things we never learn in history class, and it seems as if students are taught less about history today than ever. What are some lessons from history during this time period that would be beneficial for us to know, especially from a cultural standpoint?

—It is well known that traveling west was a dangerous endeavor, and many lost their lives not only to the elements and illnesses, but to native tribes. What added dangers did a pregnant woman face?

—One of the more spiritual aspects of the story is the idea of repaying evil for evil. How can we set our minds on overcoming evil with good?

—What can we learn from the life-altering consequences of the characters in Many Sparrows?

—Can you give a little tease about your next work in progress?

To request a review copy of Many Sparrows, to schedule an interview with Lori Benton or for more information, please contact Audra Jennings, audra@litfusegroup.com.

Reviews

This book was incredible and compelling to read with the story that was inspired base from the historically the Americans during the Revolutionary war “ Dunmore’s war” along the Ohio River Kentucky frontier in 1774.

As I turned the pages of Many Sparrows, I once again found Lori Benton’s storytelling to be enthralling, historically compelling, and awash in the faith that sustains. She reveals the strength and weaknesses and unspeakable trials that were faced in the push westward.

This is a book that will tug at the heart and will leave you thinking about the characters and plot long after the story is finished. Now if you’re looking for a cute pick-me-up, this is not for you. We are dealing with some hard battles. This will bring tears (so make sure those tissues are handy), but it will also warm the heart. It will inspire you.

Lori Benton’s Many Sparrows establishes a thought provoking view into a time when the places now known as states were still colonies, relations with Native Americans were tumultuous, and the quest for land ownership often ended in tragedy.

This is a beautiful, well-written book. The characters are compelling and well-developed. The story is interesting and not predictable. There is sweet romance, although romance isn’t the primary focus of the book. And there is spiritual encouragement, as readers share in Clare and Jeremiah’s personal stories. But the book isn’t ever “preachy.”

How do you do justice to a story that is at once exquisitely heartrending and powerfully inspiring in a few brief paragraphs? Impossible. And yet here I am, trying to do just that. It will probably require a number of repetitions of the word ‘exquisite’, so I apologise for that in advance, but it is the word that repeatedly comes to mind. Exquisite writing, exquisite pain, and yet exquisite beauty in and through that pain. It’s the kind of story that knits the truth into your very marrow—that our God is a God who has His eye on every sparrow, and that “He’s working all the while, before and behind and beside us”, even when we don’t see it.

The poignant underlying thread throughout draws us readers in, yet it’s also the sadness of life’s trials that led to the glimmer of hope for our characters. Faith and courage ties this story beautifully with the historical setting. In all, Many Sparrows is beautiful and complex.

A new writer to me and my first book by Lori. I did enjoy this story. It was beautiful well put together. Full of history that I loved reading about. Great characters and a book that touched me in many ways. Looking forward to reading more.

I found this book not only to be highly entertaining, but historically informative. Ms. Benton has written another book that is impossible to put down until the end. I hope that there will be another novel picking up where this one left off. I’d love to see what happened.

Many Sparrows is the story of the power of a Mother’s love, strength, compassion, forgiveness and understanding. It is powerful and the emotions pour off of the page. Lori has a great way of dragging you into the story and you feel as if you are side by side with Clare on this journey.

Many Sparrows is an amazing novel from start to finish and I could not put this one down!

Once I started to read “Many Sparrows” by author Lori Benton I was thrown into the time when women and men lived without anything to hold onto to except their faith and their families. Claire was a young mother who had to face horrible events in her life.

Lori Benton has wrote a well-rounded and dynamic novel. The book flows so well that you won’t get to much historical information and get lost. She introduces the characters with such grace that you feel you know them.

The author gives us a historical read that not only tears at your heart but warms your heart also. Written with such feeling and leaves you wanting more. It will inspire you. It will bring tears. It will make you feel like you are on that wilderness mountain top, alone, facing the unknown.